Means for producing fluid flow



eb. 1o. 1925. 1,526,229

H E PERKI NSON MEANS FOR PRODUCING FLUID FLow Filed June 9, 1923 HE verm/'7600 Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES H E PERKINSON, 0F MEXIA, TEXAS.

MEANS FOR PRODUCING FLUID FLOW.

Application filed June 9, 1923. Serial No. 644,507.

To all whom it may concer/a:

Be it know that I, H E PERKiNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at MeXia, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Means for Producing Fluid Flow, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating and maintaining a iow of liquid from wells, particularly oil wells, by the useA of heat.`

An object of the invention resides in providin a device adapted for insertion `into an oil well, containing a heated element adapted to be controlled for producing sufficient heat within the device for converting a. portion of the liquid in the well into gas, and controlling the liow of the same,

for utilizing it to create a flow of liquid in ed on the lower end thereof, provided with a flared foot ortion having suitable valves therein, said root portion being adaptedto seat on the bottom of the well, and the valved portions permitting a one-wayflow through the foot portionto the interior oi" the enlarged section on the end of the pipe in which is mounted a heating device adapted for manual control to produce a desired degree of heat for creating a suilicient heat in the lower end of a well, to convert a portion of the liquid into a gas tor control within the casing and pipe, in order to e'ect a `flow of the liquid through the pipe and outwardly from the top ot the well into a suitable container.

A further object ot the invention resides in providing a method of producing a flow of liquid particularly adapted for oil wells, wherein heat isapplied to the liquid at the bottom of the well within a restricted chamber having valve communication with the liquid in the well, to permit a one-way passage from the well to said chamber, subsequently controlling the gas generated `from said liquid by the heating device in the casing for diiecting it in a suitable manner to produce a flow of the liquid upwardly and outwardly of the well, through a suitable pipe connection with said casing.

rlhe invent-ion also comprehends other objects and improvements in the details of construction, and arrangement of the parts, which are more particularly pointed through the casing member carried by the lower end of a pipe inserted into an oil well, showing the constructionv of the casing for containing the heating element and controlling the low of gas generated thereby, to create a liquid flow from the well through the pipe.

Figure 2 is an end view or the bell nipple or fitting connecting the pipe with the casing member.

Figure 3 is a view of the fitting carried by the casing member vtor receiving the bell nipple.

vFigure t is a detail end view of the foot valve and packer, carried by the casing member.

Figure 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged Scale, of the perforated tubing.

A pipe l is adapted to extend from the top of a well, downwardly into the casing and to the body portion of the well, where it carries a coupling sleeve 2, to which is secured the flowing device, indicated generally at 3, adapted to effect a flow of liquid through the pipe l and outwardly from the well.

The flowing device includes a bell nipple 4, the smaller end of which isscrew threaded in the end of the coupling 2, while the larger end mount-s a bushing member 5, of cylindrical form, which carries an enlarged cylindrical casing 6. The lower end of the casing 6 is provided with a foot member 7, which is threadedly connected thereto, and which flares outwardly from the end of the casing 6, and is adapted to seatat the bottom of a well. This foot member is pro bushing, and" which is threaded interiorly for receiving a pipe section 12 'of smaller diameter than the casing 6, andarranged in concentric relationtherewith, which means houses a coiled"electricalheatingfelement13,

the lower end Aof thepi-pesection 112 receivlnga cap-'14: for closing-the same in liquid tight relation. Above the end of the pipe` section 12 Ain the bushing 5 ispositioned aplug-15'threaded-fin the sleeve extension, and lvwhich formsan abutment, to hmit the insertion of the-pipe section 12 in the busliing. Athreaded nipple f1@ is seated in thev plug 15, and secures the lower end of the iittingVV '17, carried by a wiring conduit =18 thereto, `for receiving and holding the wires 19 Afrom a source of energy, beyond the'top of-the well, to the heating element 13.

The bushing is provided with a plural.- ity of openings 2O arranged in concentric relation beyond the depending sleeve 'projection 11, to permita passage of fluid from thel casing -6 through the"bushing into the pipe 1.

The device constructed as above described, Ais-adapted for insertion into' a well, such as an oil well or the like, and is positioned inthe well', with the flared open end of the foot member 7, seated on the bottom of said well, the pipe 1 extending to the top of the well and outwardly thereof to a suitable container for receiving liquid flowing from the well. The opening of the well around the pipe 1 is sealed, during the use of the invention, in order that thek flowing of the liquidmay be effected. Electric current is suppli'edto thecoil 13 for heating the-salme, to a substantially high degree, which will instantly convert all liquid coming in coutact therewith `into gas, and produce a flow of `the` same upwardly through the opening 2O an'dup 'into the pipe/1, which fwill create a suction at' the'foot member, so'that liquid will be drawn inwardly through the openings 8, into the bottom portion of the casing, and the creation of gas by the heatingfelementis sufficiently fast vthat the suction' crea'ted will cause a considerable 'quan'- tity of liquid to be struck into the casing, at thel lower end, so that therising gas will push upwardly through the lopening 2O on said liquid and force the same-outwardly throng-lli'y the pipe 1,into the receptacle at t-he top of the well. It will be seen that in this-way, both liquid and the gas generated by the heating coil 13 will be caused to flow upwardly and outwardly from the pipe 1 into the receptacle, which will produce a continuous flow of liquid from the well, as long as said heating element is energized.

While this device has been described for use in connection with wells, and particularly oil wells with which it is especially adapted and designed for use, it is to be understood that it may be used: for circulating any liquid medium in the same manner;

.it isto be'noted, however, ythat it has particular advantages iir connection with its use in oil wells, for the reason thatl it prevents thezformation of paraffin and like surfaces,

which clog'the rporesof the'oil bearing roclis l/Vhat-islclaiined is y 1. A device for circulating fluid comprisinga casing-a foot 'member mounted on the casing having an opening-at `the bottoni thereof, and one-way 'valve passa 'in thel sid'esthereof, a bushingiitting on tlieupper en'd of the'casing'having'a restricted passage therein, a housed heating element carried by said bushing and extending within the casing, and a lconducting point connected with rsaid bushing for conveying fluid' bushing for conducting fluid from they casingfandk for 'supporting the 'casing in the bottom of the. well, and a heating element suspended trom' 'the bushing in the casing and spaced from the inner walls Vof said1` casing.-

3. A device'of the class described comprisinga` pipe for extension into an oil well, a bushing mounted onv the lowerend of said pipe having arcuate passages formed therein, a casing suspended from the bushing, a foot member mounted on the casing having an open flared lower end adapted to seat at the bottom of the well, said foot member heilig formed with pa'ssagesto permit a flow of fluid into said' member, a housing suspended from the bushing in concentric relation to the casing and closed at the lower end, and a heating element mounted in the housing.

4. A device of the class described comprising a pipe for extension into an oil well,

-a bushing mounted on the lower end of said pipe having circumferentially arranged passages'therethrough, a casing suspended from the bushing, a foot member mounted on the lower-end of the casing, having a eal heating mea-ns mounted in said housing. p

In testimony WhereofI have signed my neme to this specification, this the 22nd day of May, A. D. 1923, at Mexia, LiInestone County, Texas, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

H E PERKINSON. Witnesses:

L. HAPLINGER, E. A. SANFORD. 

